LEAST informative gunwriter

[mec]

He called it the Onza. Said it inhabited soutwest US and would bite your butt off. Described it as having a long dark streak down its back. People wrote in telling him he was fos or saying they had had many encounters with the feared beast.

There were several versions of a hunt by George Herter Sr! and his son Jacques. First one came out in a gun magazine and had Jacques clearly equipped with a Python and a Buntline Colt .45. They followed the dogs and killed a Jaguar and a Black Bear. Same story with pictures of the Colts showed up in the Herters Catalogue- only this time George Sr wrote the article and claimed that they were Herter .401 Powermags.

A couple of decades later, somebody wrote a exposee of canned hunts and said that the Herter had been fooled by an unscrupulous guide who had released the cat and the bear only moments before the dogs treed them.

 

[kernal_panic]

My vote goes for Jeff Cooper. This guy has nothing informative to say.. EVER.

 

[gbran]

I really like the "Gun-Tests" rag. It gives a lot of good comparative specs. However, I don't take their recommendations too seriously. As an example; A couple of years ago, they tested one of the small Glock 40's against two other pistols and gave it not too shining a rating. Forward 2 years and they give the same gun a "our pick or best buy rating".

 

[Sarge111]

Thanks, mec...

I'm glad you enjoyed it. Coming from you, that's a real compliment.

We've had a few Sentinels over the years, some that shot pretty darn good. A 6" one resided here for awhile that would do two inches at 25 yards with about any ammo, and once the sights were drifted "on" it was a dandy .22 revolver. Conversly, I had a HS "Camp Gun" back in the 70's that wouldn't stay on your hat at that distance. Thy weren't bad guns, but God help you if you ever had to go inside one, though.

A Colt Scout passed through my hands the summer I was 16... traded my high school counselor out of it, with a hard used and blue-worn old Single Six. He called my Dad and cleared it all with him first, and then I took the Ruger to school in my gym bag the following Monday, and we closed the door to his office and swapped guns, right there in the school. I saw him at a funeral a couple of years ago and we snuck off and laughed about that deal in a quiet corner- and cried about the fact that such conduct would probably generate a federal case today! Somehow I don't think we're any safer because of all these laws that they've passed.

My little Scout wasn't a bad gun, either. I get all melancholy when I see one on the auctions. Clair Rees or somebody wrote up the 7/8 scale "Peacemaker .22" Colts a few years later, and I believe he actually benched the adjustable-sighted one, with pretty good results.

Does anybody besides me love to haunt the flea markets and buy up hordes of old 70's gun magazines?

 

[Art Eatman]

Lemme play a bit of Devil's Advocate for some of the gun test writeups: I started having gun show tables some thirty years back. When I'd take something in trade, I'd usually try it out when I got home. I haven't a clue how many different brands and types/sizes of rifles, pistols and revolvers I've put a few rounds through.

Funny thing: Darned few were what I'd call junk. Most stuff shot pretty well. Accurate enough for self defense or deer hunting or whatever. Some of them were better suited for me than others; some had features which were more attractive. But, so what? I can make the same statement about guns which are by consensus admittedly top-grade.

Seems to me that there are very few junk guns being made, as a percentage of all guns. (I'm leaving out the Lorcin-style El Cheapos.) With that in mind, what's to bumrap when testing?

This doesn't mean the writing should be all flowery or that fraudulent superlatives should be used, of course; but that's a whole different flaw from what seems claimed to be pro-advertiser prostitution.

Just my $0.02...

Hey, kernal_panic, I've been shooting for over sixty years. While I'm not a 100% Cooper "sycophant", I've found relatively little to disagree with in his writings. He and I are 100% together on the business of ethics in life--and hunting. I grant that having grown up with the "editorial we", I'm less offput by it than some.

, Art

 

[sm]

I miss reading Bob Brister.
I miss the other older writers as well.
I miss my HS Sentinel.

I dunno, I kinda stopped buying magazines many many years ago. Once in awhile I read an older publication. Sometimes I hear something good to read from you guys or a friend - I read it. With Internet I read some stuff recommended as well.

Maybe I got older, I have too much required reading, miss the old stuff like Robert Ruark, Cory Ford. Last "hunting and fishing" magazine I read there was "discussion " ( heated) about what test line to use in clear water, and is there a difference in high and low brass shells.

I have some magazines from the year I was born - 1955. Sorry but even back then we knew the height of brass on shotguns shells didn't mean squat...and one always uses the lightest line ( like 4# test in clear ) in shallow water. I used 2# if and when it was that clear and shallow.

Those topic have been covered, just link to reference for new folks when a search is done...we can move along now.

I find I miss more and more of the old ways. Classic stuff in firearms, writing, stories and revues. I guess that is why I hesitate to buy newer publications.

I will give SWAT credit. By golly they call 'em as they see 'em. Makes no nevermind if they bought advertising or not.
The folks that contribute, and I know we have folks here and from TFL that are involved, just write. Some admit the writing is the hard part, I over look mistakes, I want the gyst of what is there to learn.

 

[BluesBear]

Art, I 've only been shooting for 40 years now. It seems to me that people my age or older have respect for Cooper. While those noticably younger have little or none for him.
I guess Jimmy Buffett was right, "You had to be there."


As for looking for stacks of 1970s magazines. I only wish I could find some.
Until 1996 I had every issus of Guns And Ammo from March 1964 until 1996.
Shooting times from 1967 to 1996. Guns from 1967 to 1996 and Gun World from 1968 to 1996. Every issus was in those little "binders" they used to sell with the name embossed in gold.
Don't ask where they went, it's a tragedy.

I'd love to replace them. Especially the ones from before 1980.

 

[106rr]

Sarge;
I too like to pick up old gun mags. I found a little used book store in the Gold country of CA. I bought old AR mags from the immediate post WW ll era. They had taken a poll on deer rifle calibers. The poll was pretty honest about the NRA members who would answer such a poll and noted that NRA members might be using different guns than the average guy. I have also seen old Elmer Keith articles extolling HEAVY bullets of course. I found one from the seventies by a rank beginner named Massad Ayoob. Mas was discussing the the design of firearms for use in cold weather. In years past I found articles by the OKH crowd trying to develop .333 wildcats. I think Ahern is my least favorite writer. I did enjoy the work of old timers like Henry Stebbins and Frank DeHass ?sp.

 

[Lone Star]

Frank DeHaas. (I think.) His bolt action rifle book is wonderful. Very candid appraisals.

Cooper used to have excellent material. Now, he seems to be a pompous pontificator, wholly intolerant of anyone with different views. He really irked me some years ago when he used a medieval word (in German, I think!) and ridiculed a reader who asked what it might mean. Unlike Jeff, we commoners don't have all the answers!

On a lighter note, a gunsmith named John Lawson used to write a column in, "Gunsport" or some such title. A reader asked what he thought of a spacemin he had of some gun or other. Lawson replied that a "spacemin" was an Italian astronaut...

Lone Star

 

[BigG]

Askins, Jr., Skelton, and Keith were the three wise men as far as I'm concerned. Ain't read much useful in a gun magazine since those guys crossed over.

 

[SunBear]

Talk about lack of information......I have seen several tests in gun mags recently (one in Guns & Ammo) where the writer did a halfway test because of poor weather and having to get the article to press they couldn't wait for better weather to do a complete test. I guess so they could say they were the first to test it. Oh please. The dog ate my homework.

 

[buzz_knox]

Duane Thomas. The guy's history of articles has more flip flops than Kerry's voting record. Okay, maybe not that bad, but close.

 

[C. H. Luke]

"I've never met Chuck Taylor. He may come across better in person."

Lone Star, I know Chuck to be a warm, smart,personable and soft spoken person while still being a polished professional.
Make no mistake though that he can be very adamant and to the point.

One of the first things he breaches with a new group of Students is
NOT addressing him as "Mr." or "Sir", etc. He creates and builds a friendly atmosphere where all can enjoy what they're learning.
On the other hand am sure things are not so laid-back when he's working with some of the Macho Fed Alphabet organizations he's had contracts with for over 20 yrs.
Personally have found him to be a hell of a nice guy especially given what he's been thru in 'Nam & else ware plus a truly gifted teacher/Instructor.

 

[mec]

The only time I ever saw him was at one of the SHOT shows. He was clever, personable friendly and even somewhat affectionate. He was not talking to me. He was very much engaged in a conversation with one of the female media/pr executives.

Don't know what he's like in real life, don't care, doesn't matter. The only time that sort of thing has mattered to me is when a very drunk famous gunwriter gave me a "screw you" look and seemed about to regurgitate on my shoes.

Anybody who wants a gunwriter (or anybody else) for a hero, should take special care not to ever meet him.

 

[cheygriz]

IMHO,

The best of the gunwriters were Skelton and Ross Seyfried.

The worst, and most useless is Jeffie Cooper. With Jack O'Connor, Bob Milek, Chuck Taylor and Wiley Clapp all tied for a distant second.

 

[bill2]

gun mags

I know gunwriters have numerous faults and are pretty much shills for advertising. Most give some good info some of the time. The one that drives me nuts is Dick Metalf. Whatever gun he writes about is the greatest thing since spit. How about the rest of you folks?
_____________________________________________

just like any "hobby" mag, they are designed to sell you something. I read motorcycle magazines, and they love all the bikes they ride and review, and make a big deal over a 1 second difference on track times. The only exception is Motorcycle Consumer News, in black and white, no advertising at all. I just read gun and motorcycle magazines with a rather hefty grain of salt. and sometimes a beer or two.

 

[EricO]

Incredible thread, great reading!

Although at times I tired of reading articles by Duane Thomas, he would occasionally have one that was interesting and covered a topic that was usually not covered by others. I'm personally tired of reading the 9mm vs. .45acp (etc.) debates and other articles that deal specifically about hardware. I like reviews of shooting schools and trainers or particular methods, which Duane has written a few that I recall were decent. Usually, they were something he had probably just learned from a Farnam class or someone else he had just taken instruction from, but that's alright, it's interesting nonetheless. He has, as someone noted, gone all over the place regarding what he recommends as equipment. He also seems to have a bit of an ego as well.

Of my current favorites, I would say David Fortier has written some extremely informative articles. I've always like Ayoob's and Cooper's writing. Awerbuck is in there as well.

J Ross, your post had me laughing for minutes, especially # 10 & 18.

EricO

 

[Duane Thomas]

I like reviews of shooting schools and trainers or particular methods, which Duane has written a few that I recall were decent. Usually, they were something he had probably just learned from a Farnam class or someone else he had just taken instruction from, but that's alright, it's interesting nonetheless.

There was a time, in years past, where I went through a LOT of shooting schools. Like, about 20 classes in a few years. It was great, but then I got away from it. Maybe I should get back into it. Thunder Ranch is now in Oregon, I'm in Washington state. Hmmmmm. I always liked Ginny Lyford, Clint Smith's mother-in-law, when she lived in Washington. It would be worth it just to see her again. She's like, one of the most ultimately cool human beings I've ever met.

He has, as someone noted, gone all over the place regarding what he recommends as equipment.

True, I've carried a fair number of different guns over the years.

He also seems to have a bit of an ego as well.

Moi? Shirley you jest? Seriously, I try not to.

 

[ilbob]

resurrecting a 3 year thread?

 

[zinj]

Moi? Shirley you jest? Seriously, I try not to.

Then why are you going around bumping ancient threads with your name in them?

 

[Just Jim]

Thank you for the resurection of this thread, it made me laugh alot. My how things have changed in just a few years.

jj

 

[Duane Thomas]

Yer welcome.

 

[Just Jim]

Say are you the same Duane Thomas that used to write articles for some of the gun rags??

jj

 

[Odd Job]

Yes, I am serious...and don't call me Shirley

 

[Owen]

I don't understand why everyone is down on Cooper.

As Massad Ayoob said, the man didn't just carry the torch, he lit it, when it came to the use of the fighting handgun.